Palak paneer (cottage cheese cooked in spinach sauce)

Paneer is fresh cheese aka cottage cheese, common in the Indian subcontinent.Palak paneer is very close to my heart, as the flavour of palak (spinach) reminds me of my childhood. It is my daughter’s favourite too! It is simple to make but is very tasty and goes well with either rice or naan (indian flatbread).

  • Cuisine: Indian
  • Serves 4
  • Preparation time: 15 minutes
  • Cooking time: 20 minutes


  1. Paneer (cottage cheese) 250 grams, cut into small cubes (easily available in the supermarket)
  2. Spinach 250 grams
  3. Onion, sliced 1 large
  4. Tomatoes, chopped 2 medium
  5. Ginger paste 1 teaspoon
  6. Cumin powder
  7. Garam masala powder (a blend of ground spices, easily available in the supermarket)
  8. Cayenne pepper
  9. Salt to taste
  10. Oil 2 tablespoon
  11. Water to boil spinach
  12. Fresh cream 2 tablespoons


1. Heat oil in a deep non-stick pan and saute’ the cottage cheese pieces till golden brown.

2. Boil water in a pan and add the spinach to it. Boil it for 5 minutes and strain the spinach in a colander to remove excess water.

3. Add the boiled spinach, tomatoes and ginger paste in the grinder and grind it to form a green paste.

4. Heat oil in the same pan (where you had fried the cotttage cheese cubes) and saute’ onions till golden brown.

5. Add the green paste, cumin powder, garam masala powder and cayenne pepper to the pan and cook for 5 minutes. Add a cup of water and salt to taste, cook for another 3 minutes.

6. Add the cottage cheese pieces and boil it together for 5 minutes. Add cream and mix well.

7. Serve hot with rice or naan.

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